Series Regular Promotions For Season 6 Of ‘The Walking Dead’ Lead To Storyline Speculation

With the promotion of three characters that appeared in Season 5 of The Walking Dead to “series regulars,” it seems like AMC might be attempting to change a well know storyline from the comic books series the show is based on.

WARNING: This article contains spoilers about both the television and comic book series of The Walking Dead. If you are not up to date with both forms, please proceed with caution.

The Hollywood Reporterrecently announced that Tovah Feldshuh (who plays Deanna Monroe), Alexandra Breckenridge (Jessie Anderson), and Austin Nichols (Spencer Monroe) have all been promoted to series regulars in Season 6 of The Walking Dead. If this is the case, a storyline from the comic books may alter as a result.

As Cinema Blendpointed out, in the comic books, the story line involving Jessie is near its completion. And if the Season 6 trailer is anything to go by, it certainly looks like AMC is following the Alexandria section of the comics fairly closely. However, considering this is the TV series and AMC has managed to create new characters, kill off still living comic characters as well as keep characters that die in the books, then there is no guarantee Jessie is about to lose her life in season 6 of The Walking Dead.

Or is that what AMC want Walking Dead fans to think by promoting her character to series regular? Cinema Blend thinks this just might be the tactic AMC is employing as a way to shock fans who think the title of “series regular” is a guarantee the character will be hanging around for some time.

However, if it is not a ploy to shock fans, it would give AMC the chance to further develop the budding romance brewing between Jessie and Rick Grimes (played by Andrew Lincoln). And, if the relationship between Rick and Jessie develops more as a result of her promotion to series regular, Walking Dead fans that are Team Richonne will not be impressed.

As for the other two cast members who were promoted, Tovah Feldshuh and Austin Nichols, little yet is known about how their storylines will evolve in Season 6 of The Walking Dead. Tovah’s character, Deanna, is the female version of the comic book character, Douglas Monroe, the leader of Alexandria. In the comic books, Douglas loses his wife, which leads to bouts of depression that sees him locking himself away from the people of Alexandria. When a huge horde of walkers attack Alexandria, Douglas inadvertently shoots Carl Grimes (Chandler Riggs). As for Austin Nichols’ character, Spencer Monroe, in the comic books, he “participates in a coup against Rick led by Nicholas, blaming Rick for the death of both of his parents”according to the Walking DeadWikipedia page. Could this be how it plays out in the television series?

The Walking Dead returns to AMC with Season 6 on Sunday, October 11, 2015.

What do you think about these Walking Dead characters being promoted to series regulars? Let us know by commenting below!